The Boston Red Sox have been one of the more aggressive teams in the MLB this offseason. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is leaving no stone unturned to upgrade the roster and return to the postseason after a three-year hiatus.
The blockbuster move of the offseason for Boston so far was trading for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet. The front office teased more moves are coming. An All-Star hitter who is near the top of their list may be getting more easily acquirable after the latest report.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that free agent outfielder Anthony Santander is finding a cooler market than anticipated for his services.
“Santander, who is seeking a longer deal than Hernández, according to sources familiar with each player’s expectations, still figures to do well. But if teams view him as even somewhat one-dimensional, he could end up with a lesser deal than he desires.”
– Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
Rosenthal points to Santander’s OBP, sprint speed, and poor defensive metrics as potential reasons for the lack of interest. That means that the Red Sox could swoop in and land the All-Star right fielder with a team-friendly deal.
Santander earned his first All-Star honors and Silver Slugger Award last year after putting up a career-high 44 home runs. The Orioles signed Tyler O’Neill in free agency, signaling that they are okay with Santander leaving.
The 30-year-old switch hitter could take a short-term deal to prove that he is one of the best hitters in baseball and sign a long-term deal afterward.
The New York Yankees are also reportedly interested in Santander, and after losing the Juan Soto sweepstakes and not being able to sign Crochet, the Bombers will not want to lose another top target to their bitter rivals. This could help drive up the market for Santander again, but Spotrac’s projection of a five-year, $89 million contract may not be there for the talented slugger.
